ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 21, (PIA) - - Ms. Sylvia Apduhan, an elementary school teacher from Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay, shared how the government’s anti-poverty program Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps has improved the lives of many families in her community.
“I have been assigned as an
elementary school teacher in New Canaan Elementary School in Titay. I have
observed that 4Ps has really helped in alleviating the plight of the poor,
especially the children, “ Apduhan testified.
She said she can vividly
remember that before 4Ps came into her community, many school children would be
absent during Thursdays.
“Thursday is “bagsakan”
day, or market day. Many parents would ask their children to help them in the
market. This event would attribute to four absences in a month,” she recalled.
“There would also be
untoward incidences that would cause absences among the children, especially if
they get sick. In a month, school children’s absences would average 6-10 school
days,” she explained.
“But upon the arrival of
4Ps, the absences have dropped to a minimum or even zero. I attribute this to
the parents – since they fear if they would not comply with the conditions,
they will not be receiving the cash grants,” the active lady teacher shared.
According to Apduhan, before the emergence of 4Ps in their community, most of the children would take their snacks under the shade of trees during recess time, because they were too shy to show off their snacks or “baon” to other classmates who have “better” baon than them. “But all that changed upon the arrival of the Pantawid. No children were hiding anymore. They all have nutritious “baon” food to eat.
According to Apduhan, before the emergence of 4Ps in their community, most of the children would take their snacks under the shade of trees during recess time, because they were too shy to show off their snacks or “baon” to other classmates who have “better” baon than them. “But all that changed upon the arrival of the Pantawid. No children were hiding anymore. They all have nutritious “baon” food to eat.
“Before 4Ps came into our lives,
many children would wear the same tattered, worn-out clothes almost every day. Some
didn’t even wear slippers, while others who have slippers had different pairs
on,” the teacher tearfully recalled.
“But when 4Ps begun, the
situation has changed. Children are now able to wear decent clothes, uniforms
and nice pair of slippers, and even shoes, while others had boots and raincoats
for the rain, a thing which their parents cannot afford to buy for them in the
past- before we “met” 4Ps,” she proudly said.
Apduhan said, somehow, parents were able to instill discipline within themselves, “they have now learned to control vices since they have grown to understand the importance of budgeting the money they receive (from 4Ps, conditional cash transfer) for more important things such as the children’s future and their health,”
“Before, school collections were such a chore. Parents would not come to meetings because they were ashamed that they did not have the amount to pay for school fees. The collector would only sigh, with still a huge balance remaining. But now, the parents are so eager to attend PTCA meetings – even without being told, they would produce the necessary amounts before the due date of paying the school fees,” she said.
Apduhan hopes that the 4Ps would continue to help the poorest of the poor “since we have already been proven of the poor’s capacity to grow as a more responsible individual in the hope of a brighter future for their children.”
Apduhan said, somehow, parents were able to instill discipline within themselves, “they have now learned to control vices since they have grown to understand the importance of budgeting the money they receive (from 4Ps, conditional cash transfer) for more important things such as the children’s future and their health,”
“Before, school collections were such a chore. Parents would not come to meetings because they were ashamed that they did not have the amount to pay for school fees. The collector would only sigh, with still a huge balance remaining. But now, the parents are so eager to attend PTCA meetings – even without being told, they would produce the necessary amounts before the due date of paying the school fees,” she said.
Apduhan hopes that the 4Ps would continue to help the poorest of the poor “since we have already been proven of the poor’s capacity to grow as a more responsible individual in the hope of a brighter future for their children.”
Pantawid
Pamilya is one of the government’s major programs on poverty alleviation. It is
led-implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The
Program provides conditional cash grants amounting to a maximum of P1,400 a
month to poor families in exchange to their compliance to conditions along
health, nutrition and education.
The P1,400 conditional cash allowance that each
household beneficiary receives every month helps enable beneficiaries to give
their children a decent life, put nutritious food on their tables, afford the
necessary vaccinations and send their children to school. (JPA/JLE/DSWD/PIA9-ZBST)